Factorial wrote:So, it's either win the cup this season or it's Bylsma's fault so he should be fired?

I don't know what makes people think that the Pens are so dominant over the rest of the league.

I don't get this, so if the pens win the cup that's because of Bylsma but if the pens fail it's the players fault

I'd let him keep his job if he just got us to the SCF.

But if you think there's a team out there with better talent... let me know who it is. (Blackhawks? - Boston?)

I was severly disappointed with not only the loss to Boston, but the way HCDB coach us to that loss. 0-4 with 2 goals. That's abysmal. The fact that no adjustments were made when it obviously wasn't working is even worse.

We've been over this ground repeatedly. HCDB is not the guy who's going to led this team into the future.

Gaucho wrote:If they bow out the same way there will be no supporters left.

It's funny to me that after years of disappointing results and two straight humiliations, a third humiliation is necessary.

My concern used to be that the Pens played recklessly and with an arrogant, inflexible system built around the notion if they played their game, the Pens could beat anyone. I believe that changed last year. The Pens started playing a much more responsible game last season. But now there are new issues.

A new problem is that when the Pens play responsible defense, offense really struggles. I don't think DB knows how to coach offense. I think he has relied on Sid and Geno to figure it out. I don't think that's a good recipe for success in 2013. I think the NHL is more tactical than the way DB coaches it.

A growing problem is accountability. The amount of negative body language expressed by Pens players is concerning to me. I think it's because the Pens play lazy and unfocused at times. Malkin and Letang have at least half a dozen wtf moments per game since the Pens won the cup; they appear to do whatever they want. I don't like that. If the coach isn't holding players accountable, I put the blame on him.

I also have concerns about DB's leadership. If he does not take ownership of issues or hold himself accountable, how can he expect the players to? He is constantly making excuses like the Pens are the only team for which the puck bounces.

Desiato wrote:IMO, the players like DB because he lets them do what they want.

I think the only players that have frequent moments of freelanceritis are Geno and Letang.

Letang and Malkin abuse it more, but they are not the only players with a loose leash. Bosses who allow that are usually popular.

I support giving stars a lot of freedom if they earn it by playing smart in every zone. Crosby is generally a good example of this. However, I think it's important that the coach be willing and able to rein his players in on demand based on his observations. DB hasn't shown us a lot of this IMO.

I actually do not support firing him now. Because the Penguins have invested the preseason and the first quarter of the regular season in DB, it's due diligence to give him more time to figure this out.

I agree it is unlikely, but I believe upper management is prepared to fire him. For example, if the Pens continue to play as they are now in January. But my bet is the staff get the machine running well enough to make another run.